TATUM REEDY, Estrella Foothills catcher, prepares for a throw to secind base against Winslow in the Division III state semifinal game at Rose Mofford Sports

Reedy (From Page 10)

careers, bringing the Lady Wolves to two state title games (a championship in 2011) and two state semifinal appearances. “Tatum brings a lot of intangibles that are going to be beneficial,” Rodolph said. “Her knowledge of the game and personality make her an outstanding catcher and a great fit for for our program.”

was her leadership on the field. She was a captain for the last two years and constantly helped teammates identify tendencies of the opposing pitcher, or worked with them on their game. “She’s got all the mechanics,” Estrella coach Rick Brungardt said. “As a coach, either [assistant coach] Monica [Godfrey] or I can take a kid aside and work with them, but sometimes having [a teammate] hands on, they have a better perception of what it’s all about, and she’s really good in that regard. I think the kids appreciate that, and the fact that she has a good fundamental knowledge of the game, I think kids respect that so when it comes to leadership it comes real easy for her.” Not only did Reedy lead with her

knowledge of the game, she also did so Where Reedy really excelled at Estrella

with the bat. In 139 games over her career at Estrella, she had 221 hits, 12 home runs and 167 RBI. She batted more than .500 every year but her freshman campaign, where she hit .446. “What I like most about her is the attention to detail that she pays to her craft,” Rodolph said. “I feel like offensively she has continued to work and get stronger every year.”

Garnering attention Reedy was looked at late in the recruiting process, but it didn’t stop New Mexico State from jumping at her when the opportunity arose. “I was playing at Phoenix College with my club team and one of the New Mexico State recruits was there and he asked me if I was signed, and I said no,” Reedy said. “There was a camp the next weekend and the first day they offered me a walk-on spot, said they didn’t have any money possible for my first year, and then I just got an email a couple of weeks ago that said they got money and wanted me to sign and want me to know their commitment to me as well as my commitment to them.”

Complex May 11. Reedy will further her softball career next season at New Mexico State University.

really good and they fell in love with my personality,” Reedy said.

Mexico State and I had the opportunity to see her play for the Killer Bees [club team] during travel ball,” Rodolph said. “Honestly, I fell in love with her personality and how hard she plays the game. Her knowledge of the game is at a very high level and I think that’s going to benefit her and us at the next level.” Brungardt knows Reedy will excel at

“She came into a prospect camp at New

very proficient at it.” Reedy is looking forward to New

Mexico State and likes what the school has to offer.

the next level, as her experience on the diamond is something you can’t teach. “She learns to read batters pretty well, kind of has one of those memories that you could talk about a girl we played last year and she’s kind of got them in her book and says, ‘I remember playing her last year, she’s real vulnerable to rise balls,’ so we’d throw rise balls and work her in and out,” Brungardt said. “She’s got a gift, and she’s been doing it so long with club ball and school ball that she becomes

She plans to study kinesiology or psychology. They share a combined electives, so she won’t have to declare her major until her third year. “I’m listed under kinesiology but I could switch and wouldn’t lose any credits,” Reedy said. “I want to do something related to physical therapy and work with kids. I have a summer job working day care. It’s great.” NMSU’s compact layout is also a plus, Reedy said. “It’s a smaller campus, everything is right there on campus, but the thing I fell in love with the most was the team,” Reedy said. “They welcomed me. When they played at ASU, I showed up and when they were done they all came and gave me a hug. It feels like home. It’s an environment I want to be in.”

Reedy had a rough summer offensively between her junior and senior years at Estrella, she said. She was sending out emails to coaches, but without much response. Everything changed after the camp.

“When I went to that camp I did need to get your classifi ed ad in? DON’T PANIC

Do you have a classifi ed ad to place in the West Valley View? Getting rid of a car? Holding a garage sale? Looking to sell that antique Three’s Company lunch box?